Eye protector



Nov. 28, 1933. BAKER 1,936,746

EYE PROTECTOR 3 Original Filed Oct. 18, 1927 IN VEN TOR BY flelsm 771.Baker: WWI/2r A! 2270 NEY Patented Nov. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE-f I American Optical Company, Southbridge,

Mass, a voluntary association of Massachusetts 7 Original applicationOctober 18, 1927, Serial No. 226,900, new Patent No. 1,807,681, datedJune 2, 1931. Divided and this application March 22, 1930. Serial No.438,204

3 Claims.

This invention relates to eye protectors for goggles, and has particularreference to a goggle adapted for the use of aviators. This applicationforms a division of my application Serial Number 226,900, filed October18, 1927, patented June 2, 1931, $1 1,807,681.

The principal object of this invention is to provide means whereby the,amount of ventilation in an eye protector may be varied to suit thecondition under which said eye protector is used.

Another object of this invention is to provide an eye protectorparticularly adapted for aviation and other high speed occupations, byhaving ventilating means variable according to the velocity of theexternal air.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means forfitting such a device to the face of the wearer, whereby the air or windfrom the outside will not enter the eyecup, except as provided forventilation.

Another object of this invention is to provide simple and economicalmeans of accomplishing said reduction or increase of the ventilating airsupply to an eye protector.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and itwill be understood that many changes may be made in the details ofconstruction and. arrangement of parts without departing from the spiritof the invention, as expressed in the accompanying claims. I, therefore,do not wish to be limited to the exact details shown and described, asthev preferred forms only have been shown by way of illustration.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. I is a front view of the device in placeon the face of the wearer.

Fig. II is a top view of Fig. I.

Fig. III is a cross section on line IIIIII of Fig. II.

Fig. IV is a cross section on line IV--IV of Fig. I11.

Fig. V is an enlarged sectional view of the ventilation opening shown inFig. III.

Fig. VI is a cross section on line VI-VI of Fig. V.

Fig. VII is a partial cross section on line VII-VII of Fig. III.

Fig. VIII is a view similar to Fig. V, showing one end of the airchamber closed.

Eye protectors for aviators, automobilists, and others engaged in highspeed occupations are usually ventilated by a suction device of somenature, which is dependent upon the velocity of the wind and the speedof the machine for its operation. Usually, the wind thus created, isallowed to pass through a specially designed chamber and to draw, as itgoes, the warm air from the interior of the eye protector. It willreadily be seen from this operation that a device which is quiteeflicient at slow speed by giving sulficient ventilation,will invariablygive too much at a higher rate of speed. The contrary is, of course,true, and if the ventilation is made for a high rate of speed such as isusual in combat planes, it will be too restricted for use in ordinarytransport work. It is the prime object of my invention therefore, toprovide a ventilating device for these eye protectors which will varythe flow of air to the interior of the eye protector, according to thespeed at which the user is traveling, or the velocity of the wind acrosshis head.

Referring to the drawing wherein similar characters of reference denotecorresponding parts throughout the several views, the improved gogglecomprises a pair of eyecups l carrying lenses 2. The eyecup 1 comprisesan outer rim or ring 3, having a flanged lens seat 4 and an inner ringor rim 5 between which is held the flange 6 of the resilient facecontacting member 7. The face contacting ring 7 has the enlarged portion8 for engagement with the face and this ring is made preferably of softrubber. The eyecups 1 are secured one to the other, by the bridge 9. InFig. I it will be noticed that on the nasal side of theeyecup there is aprojection 12 of the resilient ring 7, fitting into the nasal socket. Ithas been found from experience that ordinarily, goggles ofthis type donot fit snugly into the nasal socket or canthus; hence, an open space isleft which allows the wind to be driven in through the opening in theeyecup. This defeet is overcome by enlarging the enlarged portion 8 tofit into the nasal canthus, as has been described. This is an importantfeature of the present invention. It will be understood that theprojections 12, being of tough rubber, are very resilient, and fitthemselves naturally and easily to noses of various sizes and tocontours of the nasal canthus of various shapes. are ventilated throughthe openings 29 in the rim 3 and 30 in the rim 5 on one side of theeyecup, and by the tubular lug 31 having a tubular sleeve 32 with aplurality of openings 33, aligning with the opening 34. in the rim 3,see Fig. V. The sleeve 32 in Fig. V is open at both ends. In Fig. VIIIthe sleeve is closed at one end, as shownat 35. The tubular lug 31 isfitted The eyecups with the pin 36 which fits into an elongated slot 37in the sleeve 32.

By rotating the sleeve 32 in the lug 31, either one or more of theopenings 33 may be'thrown into line with the opening 34 in the rim 3,and in this way, the amount of ventilationmaybe regulated. The pin 36holds the sleeve 32 in the A extreme open and closed positions, andagainst removal therefrom. The construction andop eration are best shownin Figs. V and A suction is caused by the air rushing through the tubeof the lug 31. This draws the air in through the openings 29 and 30 inthe rims 3 and 5. In Fig. VIII the air, instead of rushing through thetubular lug 31, rushes over thetop, and past the orifice of the member32. From the above de scription it will be seen that when the speed'ofthe plane is reduced, or the velocity of the wind drops, the suction inthe ventilation means will correspondingly grow less. The sleeve 32 inthe lug 31 may thereupon-be rotated until the desired amount ofventilation is obtained. From the foregoing, it will be readily seenthat. I have provided extremely simple and novel means of accomplishingthe objects of this invention, particularly in providing means ofreducing the suction in an eye protector when increased speed or greaterwind velocity necessitates said reduction for the comfort of the wearer.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In an ophthalmic mounting, an eyecup having orifices on oppositesides thereof, a sleeve bearing adjacent one of the orifices, and arotatable sleeve in the sleeve bearing and having an orifice alignedwith the orifice in the eyecup whereby by rotating the sleeve in thesleeve-bear- .ingthe orifice in the sleeve may be brought to open intothe orifice in the eyecup or the orifice in the eyecup may be closed bythe non-perforate portions of the sleeve.

2. In an ophthalmic mounting, an eyecup having orifices on oppositesides thereof, a sleeve bearing adjacent one of the orifices, and arotat able sleeve in the sleeve bearing and having a plurality oforifices aligned with the orifice in the eyecup whereby by rotating thesleeve in the sleeve bearing a selected number or" the orifices in thesleeve may be brought to open into the orifice in the eyecup or theorifice in the eyecup may be closed by the non-perforate portion of thesleeve.

3. In anophthalmic mounting, an eyecup having orifices on opposite sidesthereof, bearing means adjacent one of the orifices, movable valve meansin the bearing means and having an orifice aligned with the orifice inthe eyecup whereby by moving the valve means in the bearing means theorifice in the valve means may be brought to open into the orifice inthe eyecupor the orifice in the eyecup may be closed by thenon-perforate portion of the valve means. NELSON M. BAKER.

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